Page:History of the Reign of Ferdinand and Isabella the Catholic Vol. I.djvu/328

184 ADMINISTRATION OF CASTILE. PART who had made himself generally unpopular by his " strict discipline. They even proceeded so far as to obtain possession of the outworks of the citadel, and to compel the deputy of the alcayde, who was himself absent, to take shelter, together with the princess Isabella, then the only daughter of the sovereigns, in the interior defences, where they were rigorously blockaded. Isabella's Xhc oucen, on receiving tidings of the event presence of 1 ' o O mind. ^^ Tordesillas, mounted her horse and proceed- ed with all possible despatch towards Segovia, attended by Cardinal Mendoza, the count of Benavente, and a {ew others of her court. At some distance from the city, she was met by a deputation of the inhabitants, requesting her to leave behind the count of Benavente and the mar- chioness of Moya, (the former of whom as the intimate friend, and the latter as the wife of the alcayde, were peculiarly obnoxious to the citizens,) or they could not answer for the consequences. Isabella haughtily replied, that " she was queen of Castile ; that the city was hers, moreover, by right of inheritance ; and that she was not used to receive conditions from rebellious subjects." Then press- ing forward with her little retinue, through one of the gates, which remained in the hands of her friends, she effected her entrance into the citadel. The populace, in the mean while, assembling in greater numbers than before, continued to show the most hostile dispositions, calling out, "Death to the alcayde! Attack the castle ! " Isabella's attend-